Drapery prtectors



' Nov. 11, 1958 F. F. SACHS DRAPERY PROTECTORS Filed Dec. 22, 1954 United States Patent DRAPERY PROTECTORS Florence F. Sachs, Chicago, Ill. Application December 22, 1954, serial No. 476,897

3 Claims. (Cl. 160-124) On'e principal object of the invention is to provide novel protectors adapted to be hung in backof draperies or the like to protect them from moisture, dirt, and the like.

A further object is to provide drapery protectors of the foregoing character which will prevent damage to draperies due to rain entering a room through open windows.

It is an'other object of the invention to provide novel drapery protectors which may be drawn back an'd forth along with the draperies and which will remain hidden behind the draperies while they are being drawn.

A further object is to provide drapery protectors of the foregoing character which are also adapted to be wrapped completely around the draperies to provide coverall protection during vacation intervals.

Another object is to provide novel drapery protectors of the foregoing character which will minimize wear and deterioration of the draperies and will reduce the frequency with which the draperies will need to be cleaned.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in' which:

Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view taken through a drapery equipped with anexemplary drapery protector constituting an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the view being taken generally along a line 1-1 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the upper por,- tion of the exemplary drapery protector;

Fig. -3 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational sectional view taken through the protector and the drapery, generally along a line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged front view of a drapery equipped with the exemplary protector, on'e upper corner of the drapery being turned down to reveal the protector;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along a line 5 5 in Fig. 4, to show snap fastener elements employed to secure one side edge of the exemplary protector toa vertical edge of the drapery; and

Fig. 6.is `a rear view of a protector in place on a drapery.

If the drawings are considered in greater detail, it will be seen that they illustrate an exemplary drapery protector 11 attached to a drapery panel 12. In this instance, the drapery 12 is suspended from a conventional draw rod 13 equipped with a plurality of movable hangers 14 which are provided with depending tabs 15. Apertures 16 are formed in the tabs to receive S-shaped drapery hooks 17 having upper and lower hooked portions 18 and 19. A hanging strip 20 is sewed or otherwise secured to the rear side of the drapery 12 along its upper edge so as to define a series of downwardly opening pockets 21 adapted to receive the lower hooked portions 19 of the drapery hooks 17,. It will be understood v2,859,811) Patented Novi. Il', 1958 that the drapery 12 may be drawn along the draw Vrod 13 in the usual manner. In drawing the drapery panel 12, one vertical edge 22 of the panel will be moved back and forth so as to meet with or be withdrawn from a mating edge of an opposing drapery panel. In other words, the left and right hand edges of right and left hand panels will be moved toward and away from each other in drawing the draperies. As is conventional,` the drapery panel 12 may be hung in front of a window 23, as shown in Fig. 1.

To protect the drapery panel 12 from rain, dirt, and sunlight which may enter the window 23, the drapery protector 11 is adapted to be hung at the rear of the drapery panel 12 so as to cover an'd protect the panel. It will be seen that the drapery protector 11 is in the form of a rectangular panel which may be made of any protective material, but preferably is made of a lresinous plastic, such as a vinyl or, polyethylene resin, in the form of a film. While the plastic protector panel 11 may be opaque or colored, it is preferred that it be transparent or translucent and colorless so that the normal color of the rear surface of the drapery panel 12'will show through from the outside of the window. In this way, the drapery protectors will be virtually invisible from the outside.

- Provision is made for attaching the drapery protector 11 to the drapery 12 along the top edge of the drapery, land preferably also along at least one vertical edge. To attach the protector panel 11 to the drapery 12 along its upper edge, the illustrated panel 11 is provided with. a hanging strip 26, sewed or otherwise securedto the panel 11 so as to form a plurality of loops 27 adapted to receive the lower hooked portionsI 19 of the drapery hooks 17. In this instance, the strip 26is sewed to a hemmed portion 28 formed along the top edge of the panel 11;. The loops 27 are formed in the strip 26 by means of relatively long and short stitches 29 and 30 employed in mixed sequence in sewing the strip 26 to the panel 11. For example, three, four or five short stitches 30 may be employed between each long stitch 29. It is the long stitches 29 which actually form the loops 27 along the strip 26. The short stitches 30 serve to secure the strip 26 to the panel 11 at spaced points. It is preferred t0 attach the strip 26 to the rear or window side ofthe panel as shown. In this instance, additional loops 31 are formed at each end of the panel 11 by doubling back the strip 26.

One vertical edge 33 of the protector panelll is pref erably secured to the drapery 12 by means of disengageable fastener elements 34 and 35, which may be of any suitable type, but preferably are in the form of male and female snap fasteners 36 and 37 mounted on fabric tabs 38 and 39. It will be seen that the tabs 38 on' the fasteners 34 are sewed to the vertical edge 33 of the protector panel 11. Reinforcing hems 40 may 'be formed along the vertical edges of the protective panels 11 and the tabs 38 may simply be sewed under the hem at the vertical edge 33. The tabs 39 on the other set of snap fasteners 35 are adapted to be sewed to the vertical edge 22 of the drapery panel 12. It will be understood that the fasteners 35 are attached to the rear side of the movable vertical edge of the drapery 12 when. the protector 11 is in'stalled.

p It is a simple matter to attach the drapery protector 11 to the drapery 12. This is done by drawing the drapery 12 to its full width and hanging the loops 27 and 31 on the drapery hooks 17. More specifically, one of the endmost drapery hooks 17 is unhooked from the rod hanger 15 and inserted through the end loop 31 at one end of the protector panel 11. The hook 17 is then reattached to the rod hanger 15. Likewise, the successive hooks 17 are removed from the rod 13, inserted through the loops 27 in the hanging strip 26, and replaced on the rod. With the `strip 26 thus hung on the hooks 17 and the panel 11 in place behind the drapery panel 12, the snap fasteners 35 are sewed to the rear side of the drapery 12 adjacent the vertical edge 22 of the drapery. This is the edge which moves when the drapery is drawn. It will be understoodithat the fasteners 34 and 35 securely retain the protector panel 11 behind the drapery 12 so as to maintain alinement between the protector and the drapery even when the drapery is being drawn. In this way, the protector will at all times be hidden behind the drapery. It will be understood that detachable fastener means may be provided at both vertical edges of the protector, but it is usually sufficient to provide such fasteners at the movable Vertical edge only.

Since the exemplary drapery protectors 11 are made of plastic film, they are moisture and dustproof. Accordingly, they will protect the drapery from rain and dirt which may enter the window behind the draperies. `In this way, damage to the draperies and unnecessary cleaning expenses are obviated. It will also be apparent that the protectors prevent wear on the draperies due to the draperies rubbing against the window sill or the like. During vacation intervals, the drapery protectors 11 may be wrapped completely around the draperies 12 so as to provide Coverall protection for the entire drapery. This may be done with the drapery 12 drawn to its minimum width. The snap fasteners 34 and 35 are disengaged and the loops 27 and 31 are removed from the drapery hooks 17 with the exception of the end loop 31 at the outer or stationary edge of the drapery protector 11. This end loop is left on the endmost drapery hook 17. The protector panel 11 is drawn behind the drapery 12 and the centrally disposed loop 27 is hooked over the endmost drapery hook at the center or movable edge of the drapery 12. The remaining half of the protector panel 11 is then drawn outwardly across the front of the drapery 12 and the remaining end loop 31 is hooked over the outer endmost drapery hook along with the other end loop. Others of the intermediate loops 27 may be hooked onto the drapery hooks 17 at the rear of the drapery 12, if desired.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A protector for a draw drapery adapted to hang on movable drape hooks and having one vertical edge of the ldrapery movable relative to the opposite edge thereof in drawing the drapery, said protector comprising a rectangular moistureproof panel made of light-transmitting resinous plastic film and adapted to fit over the rear side 'of the drapery, said panel having top and side hems thereon along the top and vertical side edges thereof, a hanging strip sewed to said panel along said top hern and having doubled back end loops at opposite ends thereof for receiving the endmost drape hooks, said strip being sewed to said panel with relatively long and short stitches in mixed sequence to -define a plurality of additional hook receiving loops formed by said long stitches to receive intermediate drape hooks, said protector being adapted to be hung on the hooks in addition to and immediately behind said drapery, a plurality of snap fastener elements of one sex secured to said panel along one of said side hems, said one side hem being adapted to hang immediately behind the movable vertical edge of said drapery, and a plurality of snap fastener elements of the opposite sex disengageably mating with said first mentioned elements and mounted on fabric tabs `adapted to be sewed to the movable edge of the drapery, said snap fastener elements retaining said panel behind the drapery even while the drapery is being drawn, said protector also being adapted to be wrapped completely around the drapery with said snap fastener elements unfastened and with said end and at least one of said intermediate loops suspended on the hooks.

2. A protector for a drapery adapted to hang on movable drape hooks, said protector comprising a rectangular moistureproof panel made of resinous plastic film and adapted to lit over the rear side of the drapery, a. hanging strip secured to said panel along the top edge thereof and having end loops at opposite ends thereof for receiving the endmost drape hooks, said strip being secured to said panel at spaced points to define a plurality of additional hook receiving loops formed therealong to receive intermediate drape hooks, said protector being adapted to be hung on the hooks in addition to and immediately behind said drapery, first fastener means secured to said panel along one side edge thereof, and second fastener means disengageably mating with said first fastener means and adapted to be secured to one vertical edge of the drapery, said fastener means retaining said panel behind the drapery in alinement therewith.

3. A protector for a draw drapery adapted to hang on movable drape hooks and having one vertical edge of the drapery movable relative to the opposite edge thereof in drawing the drapery, said protector comprising a rectangular moistureproof panel made of light-transmitting resinous plastic film and adapted to fit over the rear side of the drapery, said panel having top and side hems thereon along the top and vertical side edges thereof, a hanging strip sewed to said panel along said top hem and having doubled back end loops at opposite ends thereof for receiving the endmost drape hooks, said strip being sewed to said panel with relatively long and short stitches in mixed sequence to define a plurality of additional hook receiving loops formed by said long stitches to receive intermediate drape hooks, said protector being adapted to be hung on the hooks in addition to and immediately behind said drapery, a plurality of snap fastener elements of one sex secured to said panel along one of said side hems, said one side hem being adapted to hang immediately behind the movable vertical edge of said drapery, and a plurality of snap fastener elements of the opposite sex disengageably mating with said first mentioned elements and adapted to be sewed to the movable edge of the drapery, said snap fastener elements retaining said panel behind the drapery even while the drapery is being drawn.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 131,313 Timby Sept. 10, 1872 279,236 Fletcher June 12, 1883 1,445,106 Schreiter Feb. 13, 1923 1,796,019 Guenther Mar. l0, 1931 1,856,752 Ellinger May 3, 1932 2,244,656 Asch June 10, 1941 2,317,074 Mida Apr. 20, 1943 2,609,043 Dubinsky Sept. 2, 1952 2,686,564 Thorp Aug. 17, 1954 

